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UK Pilot Wins Discrimination Case
Contributed by Sabrina Robb and Elizabeth Parker
via News Planet
June 1, 1998
Transsexual Kristina Sheffield, whose case against Britain is awaiting
judgment by the European Court of Human Rights, has won her employment
discrimination claim before a British industrial tribunal. Despite more than
34 years' experience, Sheffield was not given an interview when she made two
applications to pilot for Easyjet when it was recruiting in 1996; she
received no explanation of the rejection at the time or in repeated attempts
over months afterwards.
In its defense, Air Foyle Charter Airlines (which had held the operating
license for Easyjet at the time) presented recruiting officer Captain
Michael Veal, who had worked with Sheffield at another airline a decade
before, and based on that experience said that Sheffield, "tended to be very
forceful and...flaunted her femininity which made people feel uncomfortable"
and that she "was unable to work in a team, was hazardous to safety, that
she flaunted her femininity and that pilots were unable to fly with her."
The tribunal rejected that testimony, finding there was nothing in her work
history to make her unsuitable for an interview, and concluded that, "It
follows that the applicant has been treated less favorably on the ground of
her transsexuality and that this amounts to less favourable treatment on the
ground of her sex." A financial settlement in the case is still to be
determined. It's been a challenge for Sheffield to find employment as a
pilot since she left Brittania Airways in 1986 following her sex
reassignment surgery -- Sheffield says she was fired, Brittania says she
left by "mutual agreement" -- even though Sheffield had been under
consideration for promotion to a command position.
Sheffield's EuroCourt case, which was brought in conjunction with Rosa Horsham and argued in February,
challenges Britain's policy against issuing new birth certificates following
sex reassignments as a violation of privacy rights. Britain is the only
European nation which will not issue new birth certificates showing the new
names and genders of those who have undergone sex reassignment.
Ginger Spice sings on in Thailand's "Spice Gays"
Contributed by Jodie Miller
via Reuters
June 4, 1998
BANGKOK - Fans of the Spice Girls need not despair over the
departure of Ginger Spice.
The pop star, whose real name is Geri Halliwell, may have quit Britain's famed
all-girl quintet but she's still very much with them in the Thai version -- a
group of transsexuals known here as the Spice Gays.
Akanit Ratanavich, or "Pretty," mimics Ginger Spice in a red wig, black hot
pants and low-cut gown over a pair of breast implants as the group lip-syncs
Spice Girls' numbers at a Bangkok theater.
"Pop fans everywhere might be disappointed with Ginger's decision to quit the
group, but here this Ginger will be with the show for good to make up for the
loss of the real one," Pretty said after a recent show before a packed
audience.
"Its very funny...to act as someone famous that you always like to be," said
the 24-year-old singer, who underwent a sex change operation five years ago.
"It was sad news, but I knew that one day, they would come to this point since
they are so famous," Pretty added.
Among the group's renditions, "Spice Up Your Life" and "Wannabe" were the two
Spice Girls numbers that drew the most applause from a visibly spiced up
audience.
"People always ask if we are really women. The answer is we are better than
men and we are humans of all seasons," said Pretty.
TG Candidate Challenged
Contributed by Elizabeth Parker
via Associated Press
June 4, 1998
INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Kern, also known as Bobby Scott Hidalgo,
wants to put a dispute over his name behind him and get on with
running for Congress.
A state commission on Monday rejected efforts by the state's
Democratic Party to remove the convicted felon, whose given name is
Hidalgo, from the party's side of the November ballot because of
the different names he has used.
State Democratic Party chairman Joe Andrew said he is prepared
to appeal.
Kern, a former gas station attendant, faces incumbent Republican
Rep. Dan Burton in the fall. The district includes much of the
Indianapolis suburbs and is one of the safest GOP districts in the
nation.
The Democratic Party says Kern defrauded voters by using that
name only for the purpose of the May 5 primary. Among other things,
they argue that the Anglo-sounding name of Kern and its
alphabetical appearance first on the ballot gave him an advantage
over his Democratic opponents, Carrie Jean Trammell and R. Nag
Nagarajan.
However, Secretary of State Sue Anne Gilroy said Kern met the
requirements of being a candidate, partly because the name on his
declaration of candidacy matched that on his most recent voter
registration.
Kern was sentenced to two years in prison in a 1987 theft and
forgery case.
In addition, newspaper reports have described him as a
cross-dressing female impersonator. He says the only time he
cross-dressed was as an undercover agent in a sting operation for
the Marion County Sheriff's Department, which the department
denies.
First Open TG On NGLTF Board
Contributed by Jessica Xavier
June 4, 1998
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) has named L.J. Irving of
Oakland to its board of directors. Irving is the first openly
transgendered person appointed to the board of a national gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization.
Irving, a drug counselor and case manager at Jelani House in San
Francisco, has a long history of activism. A former member of supervisor
Tom Ammiano's staff, she was a founding member of Lesbians and Gays of
African Descent for Democratic Action (LGADDA). She has also been involved
with the Harvey Milk Democratic Club and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian
Community Services Center.
"I'm really looking forward to increasing the visibility of people of
color and to reaching out to those who can't afford the high ticket
events," Irving told the Bay Area Reporter. She emphasized that she
intends to advocate for people of color, youth, and people with low
incomes.
"We need to reach out, instead of expecting them to come to us," she
added, stating that she plans to work with NGLTF to meet people "in the
clubs, in the churches, in the families."
Irving recently returned from her first board meeting, and was very
impressed and enthusiastic about the group's openness to inclusion,
commenting that "they're not some big national highbrow group." She sees
the board becoming a new and very enthusiastic group, and noted that
additional board members will be added this fall. One of her goals is to
recruit board members under the age of 30.
Irving is reluctant to describe herself as a leader in the transgender
community, because she feels that the Bay area has so many "trailblazers"
more worthy of recognition. "I have an enormous amount of humility, and
pride for the trailblazers" she told the B.A.R. "I'm not in a position to
take a lot of credit for leadership." Irving said that she would go to
local transgender leaders for guidance on transgender issues.
This humility is typical of Irving's approach, which she describes as
being about service and not politics. "My goal is for people to be
visible, empowered and connected."
"I'm not a leader, just a worker." Irving said. "I'm more like a doorman,
holding the door open so that others can come in."
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